St. Joe avenges last year's loss

January 08, 2006|MATT KOPSEA Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Melissa Lechlitner worked her magic once again to help the St. Joseph's High girls basketball team gain some revenge Saturday afternoon. The 5-foot-7 Miss Basketball candidate scored a game-high 26 points, helping top-ranked and defending Class 3-A state champion St. Joe pull away for a 69-58 victory over East Chicago Central in action at Alumni Gym. In addition to draining 8-of-14 field-goal attempts, including four 3-pointers, Lechlitner also nailed down six free throws in the final quarter to lift the Indians (12-0) to their 25th straight win. It also avenged their only setback from last season (a 66-62 loss). "They've knocked us off the last two years, so this was one we definitely wanted," said St. Joe coach Mike Megyese. "We knew it was going to be a battle because they have some quality athletes. But, we had everyone step in with some good minutes and big contributions." At the top of the list was Sydney Smallbone, along with Cary Werntz. Smallbone chipped in 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Werntz added eight points and six rebounds. "This was probably the best game Cary played this year," said Megyese, whose club travels to Washington on Tuesday for a Northern Indiana Conference showdown. Junior Kristen Dockery got the Indians off and running by netting seven of her nine points in the opening period to help the hosts open up a 22-16 cushion. The margin increased to as many as 15 points late in the third quarter before Central (9-5) made one final run. E.C. CENTRAL (58): Brittney Washington 0 0-0 0, Valencia Cottom 2 3-3 7, Dee Dee Jernigan 9 3-4 23, Kelly Watts 7 1-2 18, Jeffra Harris 2 0-0 4, Taaja'e McKinley 3 0-0 6, Kiara Hicks 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 23 7-9 58. ST. JOSEPH'S (69): Melissa Lechlitner 8 6-6 26, Cary Werntz 4 0-0 8, Sydney Smallbone 5 2-2 16, Becky Newsom 1 2-4 4, Kristen Dockery 4 1-2 9, Deborah Wilson 2 0-0 4, Ashley Miller 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 25 11-14 69. E.C. Central16365158St. Joseph's22435869